Hi there!
We had a great summer, but it is so nice to be back! I hope and pray you had a good summer and lots and lots of time with your family and the Lord! I am going to jump right in here today, I hope you enjoy this little post the Lord has laid on my heart!
God bless you, and thanks for stopin' by!
Reflections of the Cross from the Ark
Genesis 6, 7 and 8 The past couple of weeks we have been learning about Noah and the ark in our preliminary Sunday school class. I have read and heard the story of Noah and the ark probably hundreds of times, but this time, God showed me how the ark pointed to Christ.
Noah was faithful and found grace in the eyes of the Lord, Genesis 6:8. Noah obeyed God, Genesis 6:22, 7:5. He didn’t take matters in his own hands, He did exactly what God told him to do, God brought the animals to him, Genesis 7:7-9, 14-15; he didn’t go out and chase them down; God brought the water to the ark, Genesis 7:6-7, 11-12. God sealed the door of the ark shut, Genesis 7:16. God directed and steered the ark, Genesis 6:15-16. God landed the ark right where He wanted it, Genesis 8:4, and God opened the door of the ark when it was time, Genesis 8:16
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Perfect Obedience – Genesis 6:22 and 7:5
God gave Noah specific instructions for building the ark, who and what and how much of each to bring in the ark, and how, and Noah obeyed God. His obedience was perfect. Christ came to earth to fulfill the will of His Father; John 6:38. His obedience was perfect. {However, unlike Christ, Noah was not perfect}.
One way in – Genesis 7:16
There was only one way in the ark, only one way leads to salvation, Jesus Christ. Jesus said in John 14:6 that no man can come to the Father except through Him.
God shut them in – Genesis 7:16
No one, not even Noah or his boys, could open that door once God shut it; just as no one or thing can pluck us out of our heavenly Father’s hand once we trust Christ for our salvation, John 10:28-29.
There was no sail, rudder or steering wheel on the ark – Genesis 6:15-16
Not once did God make mention of building a sail, steering wheel or rudder for the ark, if there had been a wheel, sail or rudder Noah would have been in charge of where it went, God was in control. God guided the ark with the wind, Genesis 8:1-4. God decided where the ark went, when it went there and when it stopped and where it stopped; what a beautiful picture of faith and trust!
The ark was sealed with pitch – Genesis 6:14
The ark was sealed with pitch just like we are sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, Ephesians 1:13, Ephesians 4:30, and by God, II Corinthians 1:21-22
There are so many lessons in these passages of Scripture about God and life; Noah wasn’t perfect, but was still found faithful in the eyes of God; because Noah loved Him and obeyed Him, God used Noah to fulfill His purpose, and save 8 souls. Noah had complete trust and reverence in the Lord, the first thing he did when he got on land again was build an alter and offered burnt offerings to the Lord, Genesis 8:20. What are you trusting God with today? Are you struggling to trust Him with some areas in your life, but not others? God is the very sustainer of life, He gave you life, He knows the very numbers of hairs upon your head, and loves you so much, He gave His only Son to be your sin debt. There is nothing about you or your life our heavenly Father isn’t interested in, He cares about all of you, totally you, the complete package!
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Jenn
Jenn, I really liked your thoughts here! I especially was fascinated that you pointed out that God never told Noah to build any form of steering for the ark, not even a rudder. (It would take a mighty big one, wouldn’t it?) What a picture of trust and surrender! Thanks for sharing today! Blessings!
ReplyDeleteAmen! Thanks for sharing those powerful truths!
ReplyDeleteThis is a great comparison, I haven't seen the connections between these two key bible stories before. I love all the surprising connections in the bible like this that span so many years apart from each other yet build on a consistent and loving message that completes the story when read together. How wonderful it is that God might be willing to use us for his good and wonderful purposes despite our imperfections and we can continue this story in our lives too!
ReplyDeletePraising God for His Truth. This is wonderful. Spending time with His Word in a section opens up such beauty for me. So grateful you are my neighbor at Tuesday Talk.
ReplyDeleteI love that Noah walked with God in a wicked and ungodly generation. It gives encouragement to us to pursue God and trust Him even as we see our culture headed in the same direction as Noah's did.
ReplyDeleteI always find it amazing that we can get something new from Scripture that we have read over and over again. Thanks for sharing!
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